Edit Counter: Word Count Comparison
Paste two drafts for a word count comparison: see how many words and characters were added or removed, and the percent change.
- Word change
- 0
- Percent change
- 0%
- Words added
- 0
- including rewrites
- Words removed
- 0
- including rewrites
| Measure | Original | Edited | Change | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Words | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% |
| Characters | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% |
| Characters (no spaces) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% |
| Sentences | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% |
| Paragraphs | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% |
Want to see exactly what changed? Paste both versions into Compare Text.
About
Word Count Comparison for Every Edit
The edit counter measures what an edit did to your text. A word count comparison between two drafts shows the net change, the percent change, and the words added and removed, which together tell you whether a revision really tightened the writing.
It’s ideal when you need to cut an essay to a limit or report changes to a client. To see the exact wording that changed, use Compare Text, and to check a single draft in depth, use the word counter.
Guide
How to Use the Edit Counter
Paste your original draft into the left box.
Paste the edited version into the right box.
Read the summary: the net word count difference, the percent change, and how many words were added and removed.
Check the table for characters, sentences, and paragraphs, before and after.
Features
Key Features
Net change and percent
Shows the word count change as a number and a percentage, so you know how close you are to a target.
Words added and removed
Counts rewrites on both sides, revealing how much editing happened even when the length barely moved.
Before and after word count
A table compares words, characters, sentences, and paragraphs for both versions.
Private by design
Both drafts stay in your browser, so it’s safe for manuscripts, contracts, and client work.
Use cases
Who It’s For
Hitting a word limit
Compare word count between drafts as you cut, and stop when the percent change reaches your goal.
Editors and agencies
Use it as an editing word count tracker to report how much a piece changed during a round of edits.
Writers
Answer “how many words did I cut?” after a revision, and see whether tightening worked.
Why are “words added” and “words removed” bigger than the net change?
Rewording counts as both. Changing “very big” to “huge” removes two words and adds one, a net change of −1. Added and removed show how much editing happened, while the net change shows the effect on length.
How is the percent change in word count calculated?
It’s the difference divided by the original count. Going from 1,200 to 1,000 words is a 16.7% decrease. If the original is empty, the change is shown as “New”.
What’s a typical reduction from a good edit?
Tightening a first draft often trims 10 to 25% without losing meaning. To see exactly which words changed, paste both versions into Compare Text.